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DOW 897W

1981 MG B

Silver Petrol 1798cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires6 Apr 2027
Tests7 (3 pass, 4 fail)
Pass rate42.9%

Mileage

53,456 mi
Last recorded53,456 miles
Recorded on7 Apr 2026
Typical for 1981 MG B52,343 mi

Below or average mileage for this year

4 checks still locked for this MG
Stolen
Finance
Write-off
Keepers
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Vehicle Details

RegistrationDOW 897W
MakeMG
ModelB
Year1981
ColourSilver
Fuel typePetrol
Engine1,798cc

All premium checks include

50+ data points
Finance Check (Experian) Insurance Write-off Salvage Auction Stolen Check Previous Owners Ex-Taxi, Police, NHS Mileage Anomaly Import / Export Scrapped Check Plate Changes

MOT History

3 pass 4 fail
Pass 7 Apr 2026 53,456 miles

Nearside Front Wheel bearing has slight play (5.1.3 (a) (i))

Fail 31 Mar 2026 53,453 miles

Nearside Front Headlamp not working on dipped beam (4.1.1 (a) (ii))

Windscreen washer not working (3.5 (a))

Nearside Front Wheel bearing has slight play (5.1.3 (a) (i))

Pass 27 Feb 2020 52,969 miles
Fail 18 Feb 2020 52,942 miles

Offside Rear fog lamp not working (4.5.1 (a) (ii))

Parking brake efficiency below requirements (1.4.2 (a) (i))

Parking brake lever has excessive movement indicating incorrect adjustment (1.1.6 (c))

Rear fog lamp switch inoperative (4.5.3 (a) (ii))

Stop lamp(s) all not working (4.3.1 (a) (iii)) DANGEROUS

Pass 21 Feb 2019 52,108 miles

Nearside Rear Shock absorbers light misting of oil or has limited damping effect (5.3.2 (b))

Offside Rear Shock absorbers light misting of oil or has limited damping effect (5.3.2 (b))

Fail 11 Feb 2019 52,101 miles

Nearside Rear Shock absorbers has a serious fluid leak (5.3.2 (b))

Offside Front Suspension component mounting prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength sill area (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Offside Rear Shock absorbers has a serious fluid leak (5.3.2 (b))

Offside Front Shock absorbers light misting of oil or has limited damping effect (5.3.2 (b))

Fail 11 Feb 2019 52,101 miles

Nearside Rear Shock absorbers has a serious fluid leak (5.3.2 (b))

Offside Rear Shock absorbers has a serious fluid leak (5.3.2 (b))

Offside Front Shock absorbers light misting of oil or has limited damping effect (5.3.2 (b))

How Reliable is the MG B?

Based on 191,608 MOT tests across 19,443 vehicles.

78.1%
Pass Rate
381
Miles/Year
63
Year Lifespan
19,443
On UK Roads

Top MOT Failure Points

Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid 5,224
brake binding 4,089
Parking brake: efficiency below requirements 3,715
Stop lamp not working 3,343
Steering rack gaiter split 2,887
Full MG B reliability report

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DOW 897W is a 1981 MG B in Silver with a 1,798cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 7 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 42.9%.

Across all 1981 MG B models, the average MOT pass rate is 76.2% with a typical mileage of 52,343 miles. This particular vehicle has a lower pass rate than the average for its year, which may indicate maintenance issues worth investigating.

The most common reason a MG B fails its MOT is windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid, accounting for 5,224 recorded failures. If you're considering buying DOW 897W, it's worth having these areas checked by a mechanic before committing.

The MG B typically stays on UK roads for around 63 years. At 45 years old, this MG B is well into its expected lifespan but still has years ahead.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I check the history of DOW 897W?

You can check the full history of DOW 897W by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was DOW 897W registered?

DOW 897W is a 1981 MG B, first registered on 27 March 1981.

Is DOW 897W safe to buy?

The MOT history for DOW 897W shows 7 tests with a 42.9% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does DOW 897W have outstanding finance?

Finance checks require a premium vehicle report. This checks against all major UK finance providers to see if there is any outstanding finance on DOW 897W. If you buy a car with outstanding finance, the finance company can repossess it.

No warranty or guarantee of accuracy is provided for any free data on this page. The data guarantee applies only to information obtained through the purchase of a full check.